
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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CONSTITUTION 



NATIONAL 



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EST^BI^ISHED 1)^60. 



PREAMBLE. 



The time has come when every good democra- 
tic and conservative citizen is imperatively called 
upon to take an active part in our National, State 
and Mvmicipal politics — and contribute time, la- 
bor and money, in an honest endeavor, to dispel 
the Fanaticism and Corruption which now threaten 
to poison the whole political atmosphere of our 
country. 

We believe that the present Avretched condi- 
tion of politics (particularly in our own State 
and in this City) is the natin-al result of years of 
indiference, on the i)art of the great mass of 
our best democratic citizens — merchants and 
farmers, professional men, mechanics and la- 
borers—who in their selfish attention to their 
own private affairs, have neglected their public 
duties, and allowed the management of our 
whole political system to be monopolized by de- 
signing and unworthy adventurers and sycho- 
phants, whose only aim is self agrandizement — 
whose only principle is power and plunder. 



AL-tiii^' under this hclicf. wx- have tunned an 
Association comprising all classes of our citi- 
zens, tlie Govermnent of which is beyond tlie con- 
trol of designing politicians. 

OUR ((B.IECT IS 

1st —To engaire and enlist the acdrc sijnipathji and 
support of all good citizens and true national men. 
\^ho believe that the success of the Demo- 
cratic Party at this time is essential to the wel- 
fare and safety of our country. 

lid — To make a legitimate, honest and efficient use 
of all contributions to the Association — in 
forming co-operative organisations through- 
out the Citff^ State ?C[n\ Union, — and in publish- 
ing and disseminating sermons, speeches, sta- 
tistics, tracts, &c. which shall inculcate true 
national sentitnents and sound democratic ideas, 
in opposition to the false and dangerous doc- 
trines which arc now flooding our land. 

Md — To endorse and sustain worthy and compe- 
tent men for office in our City and State — and 
to refuse support or countenance to the un- 
worthy and incompetent. 

4th — To establish, in a central location in this 
( 'ity— a meeting and reading room, which shall 
(outain U'-wspapers tVoni every State of the 





Union, (and as far as possible from every coun- 
ty) and which shall be at the service of na- 
tional men from all parts of our common 
country when visiting" our City on business or 
pleasure. 

Deploring the conientiom and femh which have 
well nigh destroyed the Democratic party in this 
State, and repudiating allegiance to, or connec- 
tion with, any existing faction or xving, — we call 
upon every true-hearted Democrat to let "by- 
gones be bygones," and forgetting the divisions 
of the past, join with us in rallying under the 
banner of the Notional Democracy, for the Con- 
stitution, devoted to the Union, acknowledging: 
hut one Test — one Motto — 

'•KIOHT AND LAW. ■ 



AKTICLK I. 

This association shall be known and designa- 
ted as I he " Nati«mal Democratic Volunteers." 

ARTICLE IL 

Sw\ 1. The Legislative and Executive power 
of this association shall be vested in an Execu- 
tive council of 90 meml>ers. 



Sb«". 2. The Executive ("ouniil shall annually 
elect a President, three Vice-Presidents, a Trea- 
surer, a Secretary and one or more assistant Se- 
cretary's and a Sergeant at Arni<. 

Skc. o. 'J'here shall he an a.lvisory Coniniit- 
tee of Lhirty-three active meml>ers, who shall he 
entitled to sit at the meetings of the Executive 
('ouncil, and present such plans and suggestions 
a,s they m.i\' consider likely to advance the inter- 
ests of the association. The majority of this 
('ommitte, shall he chosen annually hy the Ex- 
ecutive Council, and suih mijority shall select 
the remainder. 

AR'ilCLK in. 

Skc. 1. It shall he the duty of the President, 
or in his ahsence, one of the Vice-President's, to 
preside at all meetings of this Association and 
Executive Council, and enforce a due observance 
of the Rules and Regulations. He shall appoint 
all Committees not otherwise provided for. and 
have the c-asting vote in case of a tie. 

AKTICI.E IV. 

Skc- 1 . It shall he the duty of the Secretary 
and his assistants to kee]i an accurate account of 



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the procee. lings of tiie association and council — 
issue all calls for meetings under direction of the 
President or his legal substitute— to notify all 
Committees of their appointment, and the sub- 
ject referred to them, and have their ])ooks 
always at the disposal of tlie Council. 

He shall conduct all tlie correspondence au- 
tliorizcl hy the association, keeping cojnes of the 
same, and shall take charge of all letters and 
p ipers addressed to the same. 

He shall also keep a Roll B )ok, containing 
the name and residence of each member, the 
date of his admissicm. expulsion or resignation, 
and shall notify all persons elected members of 
the association, of their election. 

ARTICLE y. 

Skc. 1. The Treasurer shall receive all monies 
of the association, and deposit the same as di- 
rected by the Finance Committee of the Execu- 
tive Council. He shall pay no bills or drafts 
except those audited and signed by the Finance 
Committee, and he shall keep an account of all 
moneys received or expended, and present a bal- 
ance sheet thereof at every regular meeting of 
the Executive Council. All checks drawn by the 
'lYeasurer, must be to the order of the Chainnan. 



of the Finance Committee. The Treasiirer shall 
give bcmds to the P^xeeutive t'ouncil in tlie sum 
of Twenty Thousand Dollars, (S20,fKK)j for the 
faithful performance of his duties. 

AKTICIJ^ VI. 

Skc. 1 . The Sergeant at arms shall take charge 
of the Rooms of the association, and see that 
they are kept in order, and that no improper 
]>ersons are admitted. 

He sliall expel any disorderly persons from the 
rooms, allow no members to leave during the 
meetings without permission of the presiding 
officer, and shall perform all otiier duties the 
Comicil may reasonably ask. 

AirilCLE VII. 

Skc. I The members of this associati(»n shall 
Ite Honorary, active or associate. 

Sec. '2. Any Eminent Democrat may be elect- 
ed an Honorary meml>er by the Executive Coun- 
cil. 

Skc. '-'». Any Democrat may become aji active 
member, on being approved by the Executive 
Council, signing the constitution and i>aying the 
annual subscription ; such subscription shall l>e 
Ten I)()llars, ($10,) payable yearly, in advance. 



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All inojiositions for menibershii) must be traiLS- 
mitted in writing to the Secretary at least one 
week previous to the meeting of the Executive 
Council, at which they shall be acted upcm. 

Skc. 4. Members of any organization which 
holds A ciiARTKR from this association may be- 
come associate members, entitled to the privi- 
lege of Eeading Room and library, by paying 
Twenty-tive cents quarterly, in advance. 

Sec. 5. If any person elected a member of this 
Association shall fail to sign the constitution 
and i)ay into the treasury his initiation fee. 
within two weeks after his election, his name 
shall be erased from the books. unU'ss excused by 
tbe Executive Council. 

AH'ncLK VIII. 

Sk<". 1. None but acti\e members shall be en- 
titled to vote or hold ottitc in the association. 

Section '2. No persim holding a Public Office 
or position by election, or api)ointment shall 
hereafter be eligible to a place in tbe Kxecutive 
Council. 

Sec. 8. Auy member (»f the Kxecutive ("oun- 
cil who hereafter liecomes a candidate or appli- 
ca!it for any public office or jtosition. shall re- 



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sign his seat within unv week lr(»ni tlir tiim- he 
ha8 heeome such candidate or ap|)licant — should 
he not resign within such period of time, tlie 
Couiuil shall declare his seat Vacant. 

ARTICLE IX. 

Skc. 1. If any office in this ass<!ciation shall at 
any time heconie vac-ant, the same shall he tilled 
by the Executi\e C(»inicil. 

ARTICLE X. 

Sec. 1. The election for niemliers of tlie E.xec- 
utive Council shall take place annually on the 
Sth January. 

Sec. 2. The niemlters of the Exeeutive Coim- 
cil shall he elected for three years except the first 
Comicil. which on the adoption of this Constitu- 
tion, shall he divided into three classes — one- 
third to hold oftice (ine year, one-third for two 
years ami oiic-thinl for three years. 

ARTICLE XL 

Sf.c. 1. The Annual Meeting of the Assoeiation 
shall l>e held on the 'I'ld day of Fehruarv, at 7h 
o'clock. P. M. 

Sec. 2. The E.xecutive Couneil shall meet on 
Tlnirsdav eveuinir <»1 each week. 



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8kc. o. 'rhirty-three mt'iuljeis shall constitute 
a (luoriim in the meetings of the active mem- 
hers of the Association. 

Sec. 4. one-third of the members of the Ex- 
ecutive Council shall constitute a quorum for 
tlie transacticn of business. 

Sec. 5. Special Meetings may be called l>y the 
President, at the request of ten members of the 
Council. 

ARTICLE XII. 

Skc. 1. The Executive Coiuicil shall have 
power to grant charters to all organizations 
which may desire to act in unison with this As- 
sociation. Such organization shall be represen- 
ted by one delegate, who shall (after being ap- 
proved by the Ex. Council,) be entitled to appear 
at tlie meetings of the Council without tue right 

TO VOTE. 

ARTICLE XIII. 

Sec. 1. Any member who shall be guilty of 
misconduct, or neglect of duty, or make public 
the transactions of the Executive Council, or pro- 
pose unworthy persons for membership (knowing 
them to be such,) may be saspended orexpelled, at 



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tin- option of thr Kxtcutiv.' ConiKil. Iiy a two- 
third vote ofnu'inhcrs jutsrut at a Hrmilar Mfft- 

AKTICLE Xl\'. 

Sec. 1. TIhmc shall be three prnnaiiriit (Jom- 
mittees, appointed by the Executive founeil. 
to Avit : 

An Executive Committee. 

A Finance Committee. 

A Membership Committfc. 
Whose duties shall he desi<rnat.'d hv the Coun- 
cil. 

AKTICLE XV. 

Sec. 1. This Constitution cannot he altered 
or amended except by a two-third vote of the 
Executive Committee, at any meeting after tw(» 
weeks' notice of such intended alteration or a- 
mendment, lias been gWen aiifl entered on the 
minutes. 



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